Our Patrons

"Inspired by Jesus of Nazareth and our patrons, we are people of justice..."

At Nazareth, all students, families and staff belong to a House. There are five Houses.

The aim of the House system is to create a sense of connection, belonging and identity for each student in a smaller group within the Community. It is also to foster school ‘spirit’ through having fun.

Catherine, Dominic, MacKillop and McAuley Houses are named from the traditions of the four former schools: Siena, Mater Christi, Our Lady of the Manger and Cardinia which were amalgamated to create Nazareth Catholic Community.

Romero House has been chosen as a symbol for the social justice and social inclusion which are integral to our community.

Our House Logos are a great way for us to understand our Patrons more, and to connect with our House groups. The Nazareth cross is something that can be seen in all of our of House Logos. This is the same cross that appears in our Nazareth Logo. It unites the images and shows that at the centre of our community is our faith.

Catherine House

St Catherine of Siena

Feast Day: 29 April

Saint Catherine of Siena, ‘The Pure One’, was a Mystic, Theologian, Politician, Peace Maker, Writer and Champion of the Poor and Oppressed. Catherine had a passionate love for God through her relationship with Jesus. She writes ‘God is love’. She empowers us to be ministers of compassion and healing. One of the most socially active, most publicly influential and most theologically piercing women in the history of the church she was committed to the care of the sickest and even healed some people of diseases.

Our Catherine house logo includes the words love, virtue, ambition and unity. The symbol of the people represents being united together, teamwork and a lovingness. This is what Catherine was all about. Bringing people together and working with others to share love to those most in need.

The flame connects to the passion and fire that Catherine had inside of her, to share Gods word and be a person of faith. And lastly the Cross is a symbol that connects us to the strong faith that Catherine had in God.

Dominic House

St Dominic

Feast Day: 8 August

Saint Dominic, ‘Athlete of Christ’ lived a life of tireless effort in the service of God. He was the founder of the Order of Friars Preachers and the Patron saint of Astronomers. He spent his life preaching the truth about God and Jesus from the Bible and introduced the prayer of the Rosary after a vision from Our Lady. Evidence suggests he was a man of remarkable attractiveness of character and broadness of vision and was known for his piety, learning and asceticism. He had the deepest compassion for every sort of human suffering. The motto of the Dominican Order is Veirtas or Truth because a Dominican’s greatest work is to preach the truth about God.

Our Dominic house logo has the words “Dare to Achieve”. You can see an open book, that represents openness and welcome to others, something that describes Saint Dominic’s openness towards others. The book also represents education and a thirst for knowledge.

There is a star beaming with light. This shows hope and encourages others to shine and achieve in their own lives. And lastly the Cross is a symbol that connects us to the strong faith that Dominic had in God.

MacKillop House

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

Feast Day: 8 August

Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop was the first Australian saint. In 1866, Mary MacKillop opened the first St. Joseph’s School in a disused stable in Penola. The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph began when young women came to join Mary. In 1867, she opened her first school in Adelaide and within months, there were many schools in Adelaide suburbs and country towns. Together with other Orders and lay teachers of the time, she had a profound influence on the formation of Catholic Education as it is experienced today. She opened orphanages, providences to care for the homeless and destitute and refuges for people who wished to make a fresh beginning. She was always ready to forgive those who wronged her.

Our MacKillop house logo has the words “To serve, lead and love”. There is a long winding road representing a journey filled with trials and tribulations in Mary MacKillop’s life. It is also a symbol of her following in the footsteps of Jesus.

We can see the Southern Cross, connecting us to Mary MacKillop as an Australian saint. She was a shining light of example for others, encouraging them and leading them. And lastly the Cross is a symbol that connects us to the strong faith that Mary MacKillop had in God.

McAuley House

Catherine McAuley

Anniversary: 11 November

Catherine McAuley founded the Sisters of Mercy. Led by Catherine, the community worked with all the poor and needy in Dublin gaining a reputation for walking all over the city at a time when nuns were rarely seen in public. They were nicknamed the “walking nuns”. Within 10 years, the Mercy nuns were all over the world helping wherever the need arose. They provided education for the poor and nursing in times of disease epidemics. Catherine shows that if we are truly to be witnesses to Jesus’ message we must care for all our sisters and brothers. We are encouraged by her example to be people of action in fairness and social justice.

Our McAuley house logo has the words “act justly, love mercifully, walk humbly”. We can see an outreached hand which represents generosity and service, a perfect symbol to show how generous and giving Catherine McAuley was, always reaching out to others.

The heart is a symbol of love, mercy and kindness, which represents the loving spirit of Catherine McAuley. And lastly the Cross is a symbol that connects us to the strong faith that Catherine McAuley had in God.

Romero House

St Oscar Romero

Feast Day: 24 March

During his two years as Bishop of Santiago de Maria in El Salvador, Romero was horrified to find that children were dying because their parents could not pay for simple medicines. He began using the resources of the diocese and his own personal resources to help the poor, but he knew that simple charity was not enough. In his actions and words, Oscar demanded a peace that could only be found by ensuring people had access to basic needs and their rights upheld.

Oscar Romero had nothing left to offer his people except faith and hope. He continued to use the radio broadcast of his Sunday sermons to tell people what was happening throughout the country, to talk about the role of the Church and to offer his listeners hope that they would not suffer and die in vain. On March 24th 1980, St Oscar Romero was shot while saying mass. He gave his life to speak out on behalf of the poor and the oppressed in his country. St Oscar continues to be an example to millions across the globe who work for justice, reconciliation and peace. He was canonised on 14th October 2018.

Our Romero house logo has the words “Aspire to be more”. This is the theme for 2019 at Nazareth, aspire to be more. It encourages us to aspire to be the best that we can be. There is a lion to represents the bravery of Saint Oscar Romero, his courage and the strength he had. He was fearless and strong and stood up for what he knew was right. The star represents him being a light to others. And again we see the Cross as a symbol that connects us to the strong faith that Oscar Romero had in God.